Boxing: Keith Idec's news and notes

The Record

Here is boxing writer Keith Idec’s inside look at the sport:

FEATURED FIGHT: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana. MGM Grand in Las Vegas was announced Wednesday night as the site for the Showtime Pay-Per-View card May 3 headlined by Mayweather-Maidana. No surprise there. Mayweather’s past eight fights have taken place at MGM Grand and his last fight, Sept. 14 against Canelo Alvarez, broke America’s boxing record by producing more than $20 million in gate revenue. Organizers considered Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but Nevada doesn’t have state income tax. Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) will make at least $32 million for fighting Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs), thus taxes are a considerable issue for choosing sites for his fights.

LOCAL LOOK: Julian Rodriguez (3-0, 2 KOs), a junior welterweight from Hasbrouck Heights, will leave next week for Hollywood, Calif., to spar with Manny Pacquiao and help Pacquiao prepare for his rematch against Timothy Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas. Rodriguez, 19, expects to spend three weeks in camp with Pacquiao, who’s promoted by Top Rank Inc., which also represents Rodriguez. One of boxing’s top prospects, Rodriguez is tentatively scheduled to return to the ring April 26 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. His opponent has not been selected.

THE FINAL BELL: Vasyl Lomachenko lost in his bid to win a world title in just his second pro bout, but the talented Ukrainian featherweight handled himself well in and out of the ring Saturday night in San Antonio. It was Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO) who fought like a seasoned pro during the championship rounds, not three-time featherweight champion Orlando Salido (41-12-2, 28 KOs, 1 NC), who should’ve had multiple points deducted for blatant low blows. Lomachenko didn’t complain about losing a split decision, either. Instead, the two-time Olympic gold medalist admitted he has to improve in the gym, so that he is better prepared to win when he inevitably receives another title shot.

Boxing: Keith Idec's news and notes

The Record

Here is boxing writer Keith Idec’s inside look at the sport:

FEATURED FIGHT: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana. MGM Grand in Las Vegas was announced Wednesday night as the site for the Showtime Pay-Per-View card May 3 headlined by Mayweather-Maidana. No surprise there. Mayweather’s past eight fights have taken place at MGM Grand and his last fight, Sept. 14 against Canelo Alvarez, broke America’s boxing record by producing more than $20 million in gate revenue. Organizers considered Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but Nevada doesn’t have state income tax. Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) will make at least $32 million for fighting Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs), thus taxes are a considerable issue for choosing sites for his fights.

LOCAL LOOK: Julian Rodriguez (3-0, 2 KOs), a junior welterweight from Hasbrouck Heights, will leave next week for Hollywood, Calif., to spar with Manny Pacquiao and help Pacquiao prepare for his rematch against Timothy Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas. Rodriguez, 19, expects to spend three weeks in camp with Pacquiao, who’s promoted by Top Rank Inc., which also represents Rodriguez. One of boxing’s top prospects, Rodriguez is tentatively scheduled to return to the ring April 26 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. His opponent has not been selected.

THE FINAL BELL: Vasyl Lomachenko lost in his bid to win a world title in just his second pro bout, but the talented Ukrainian featherweight handled himself well in and out of the ring Saturday night in San Antonio. It was Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO) who fought like a seasoned pro during the championship rounds, not three-time featherweight champion Orlando Salido (41-12-2, 28 KOs, 1 NC), who should’ve had multiple points deducted for blatant low blows. Lomachenko didn’t complain about losing a split decision, either. Instead, the two-time Olympic gold medalist admitted he has to improve in the gym, so that he is better prepared to win when he inevitably receives another title shot.